Speedometer.



W. 0. NELSON.

SPEEDOMBTBR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

W. 0. NELSON.

SPEEDOMETER.

APPLIOATIGH FILED vJUNE Z7, 1910.

:Patented Mar.24,1914

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SPEBDOMETBR APPLICATION PILEUUNE 27, 1910.

akin/nm WLLIAM O. NELSCN, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2d, 19H1.

original application filed January 26, 191,0, Serial lfcl, ,540130KLvded and this application flied June 27. 1910. semi No. 55eme'.

To all fau/lont t may concern:

Be it known that l, lvViLLrAM U. NELSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, State oit' Maryland, have invented certain newand useful improvements in Siieedoineters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in spcedoineters for determiningthe speed of vehicles, the inventioifi relating particularly toimprovements upon the devices set forth in my pending application, Ser.No. 485,5;17, filed March Q3, 1909, and being a division of my iiicndingapplication Ser. lilo. 540,208, January QG, 19M).

The object of my 'invention' is to improve the construction of devicesof this character rand to devise an inetruinentwhich will loe simple inconstruction, cheap to manufac ture and effective and. accurate in' itsoperation. r*

The invention consists in the constructions and combinations of partshereinafter del scribed and set forth in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings-lt`igure l is a front elevation of deviceembodying 'my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the indicator casingshown .in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the indicatorcasing, somo of the parts of the registering devices shown and describedin my original. application referred to being omitted'. Fig. 41' is avertical longitudiiuih sectional. view of the pressure generator. Fig. 5is ai section on thc line e of Fig. Fig. t3 is av front lelevallon ofsome of the devices for operating the speed index hand. 7 is a sideelevation of the same parts shown in Fig. 6 with sonic. of the partsbroken away and somo shown in section. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view ofthe saine.` Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the saine, Fig'. 10 is a detailof `the shaft to which the indicator hand is connected.

Like parts are represented by similar characters of reference in theseveral. views.

,As in my prior application referred to, the operating devices for" thespeed indicator consist of a generator for generating a pressure of air,which generator is driven from any suitaliile movable part of thevehicle to which the .device is applied. The generator employed in thispresent device is substantially the same as thatv set forth in the priorapplication and which will again be briefly described as followsreference being had particularly to Figs. ft and 5. l

Generatorma represents the outer casingr of the generator', connected to:inv suitable point of the vehicle, preferably through the medium of abearing a. Extending through this bearing is a shaft` a2, the outer endof which has connected therewith a gear a, meshing with. the gear at,fixed to any movable part of the vehicle' such as the hub of one of thewheels. Located within the outer casing is a cylinder a5, eccentric tothe axis of the said shaft, which cylinder liasinlet ports a, and outletports, al, oppositely arranged. Located within this cylinder a. vpistonhead, as, secured to the inner end of the shaft so as vto be rotatedthereby, the

periphery of this cylinder head being 'eccentric to the inner peripheryof the cylinder and having a close :lit with one side thereof. Locatedabout the cylinder head is a series of piston blades or slides, a9, four'being shown in the present instance, located in radial slots in thesaid head and being spring pressed loutwardly against the Walls of thecylinder by means of springs am. The space between the eccentricallyarranged cylinder' and the outer-casing. isvdividedv by a partition a soas to forni two chambers 0,12 and a on opposite sides-thereof, thispartition having a restricted orifice a extending therethrough. Thechamber @12 communicates with the atmosphere through a vent au. A.nipple, al is connected tothe casing and communicates with the otherchamber a, and a tube a connects this nipple with the speed indicator tocause the indicator to be operated by the air pressure generated in4 themanner hereinafter more fully explained. A throttling valve alS isprovided in the reduced orifice 01Lk to permit the in` strument-to beadjusted so that the indicator may properly designate the speed at whichthe vehicle is moving, this valve being in the nature of a screw tappedinto one end of the partition. As the piston head is re'- volved the airis exhausted from the chamber cl2 and forced into the chamber als andthence back` again into the chamber aw through the. restricted passage.This rey stricted passage, however, being relativelyy small, the airwill be caused to be compressedl` more or less in the chamber, cl3,according to the speed ot' the vehicle, which pressure will bach upthrough thc tube a, to the Q, weones speed indicator devi-ce and operatethe said indicator device in the manner novv to be described. l

Specclomc'er.-Located in one end of the main casing, B, is a chamber b,formed by a shalloWcup-shaped disk, o', on one side and a flexiblediaphragmb2 on the opposite side, this iiexible diaphragm being se curedto the disk b', by a ring b3; the disk h having an inwardly extendingflange b4 for thispurpose and the said ring being secured to saidflange, Withvthe ,edge of the flexible diaphragm clamped between thesame, by small screws b5, or other suitable fastening devices This,flexible diaphragm is preferably foi-ined of leather but may beconstructed of any suitable material. Piv oted in a suitable support'h,`secured to the said chamber' is an operating lever o?, this operatinglever being pivoted to said support preferably by providing the end ofsaid lever with extending trunnions 68, (see Fig. 8) which trunnions areengaged by set-screws adjustably secured in the sides of said supportb". This lever 67 is pivotally connected midway tslength to the centerof the diaphragm b2 4throughv the niedium of the ears b", which ears aresecured tothe diaphragm by being riveted 'or other-v wise fastenedthereto; circular disks 211 being secured to either side of. thevdiaphragm at the central portion to stiiien the same at this point andprovide a better attachment :tor lthe ears. A spring b1", secured at oneend to the support b with its free end resting on a small bar b1 securedbetween the ears b9, serves normally to force the diaphragm to collapsedposition as shown in Fig. 7. omniunicating with the chamber, o, is anipple 6M and connected toy this nipple is one end oft the tube apreviously referred to. tevolubly mounted in a suitable support,consisting of the rods b, and crossbar 1", isa shaft o, to the end otwhich is secured an indicator pointer L18; the other end of the saidshaft being formed a .reducedend' 619' which is seated into a recess ora socket in the rin Z13 to provide a bearing for this end of sai shaft,Secured to the said shaft is a spiralshaped projection, h2", which isstraddled by the bifurcated outer end 521 of the said lever 57. Theresult ci this construction is that the air pressure caused by-the saidgenerator, entering the chamber, lb, will' force the diaphragm away fromthe disk b, thereby moving the lever- 67 andl` causing the'same torevolvethe shaft 515 through the medium of the spiral-shaped part 52 andthus cause the indicating hand to -move about the graduated dial 522,'the formation of theJ spiral-shaped projection, b2", bein(Y such as willimpart to said indicating hand a unitorm movement thus obviating thenecessity ci? arranging the indications on `either direction the dialatlvarying distances apart. The

extent of movements of the parts Will depend directly upon the airpressure, Which will be regulated by the speed of the vehicle, and theinclination of .the spiral-shaped tion to the vertical axes ot the indexshaft, Z717 in a direction toward the outer end thereof to-compensatefor the changes 1n lthe relative pressuresat variable speedsnecessitated by the fact that lthe pressure of the gas 'forced throughthe aperture in creases in proportion to the square of the volume of thegas passed through the aperture in a given time.

The parts shown at the right of the piston in Figffl relate totheodometer mechanism and operate quite independently ofthe speedometer.devices described. lThese 4parts 'are located in auxiliary casing@ andconl sists of a flexible diaphragm-c1 closing one end ofthe casing, aneccentric c5 connected with the generator shaft a2, a bell crank leverc7, one arm ol which is connected tol `the center of the diaphragm andthe other arm of. which is connected by a. ball-'andsoclzet joint to theyoke o, Which yoke is pivotally connected to a strap c25 which encirclest e eccentric so as to cause the movement. of the eccentric to 'beimparted to the diaphragm.. A nipple 012 communicates with interior ofthe casing and is connected,-

by a pipe connection 01.3 to the main casing 1 v70 proyection, 02,gradually decreases in rela- B within which may be located suitable.

'mechanism for registering they distance traveled'by the vehicle. Thismechanism, however, is not shownin the present application, but isvfully described in my co pending application Ser. No. 540,208.

Having thus described my invention, I4

claim:

1. ln, a speedometer for vehicles, a pivoted lever having a bifurcatedend, means controlled by the speed of the vehicle for.

imparting to said lever a movement proportionate to the speed ot' saidvehicle, a rotatable shaft having an indicating hand, and a spiralshapedprojection on said shaft stiaddled by the bifurcated end of sai-.dla verto cause the movement of said lever 'into be imparted to said Tin-lli:

eating hand.

- 2. in a speedometer` for vehicles, a gas receptacle, afleinblediaphragm connected With said receptacle, means controlled by the motionof the vehicle for creating presiic surcs of, gas in said receptacle toimpart movements to said diaphragm proportionate to the speed of thevehicle, a lever ivoted at` one end, means for connecting said leverwith said diaphragm, the other end of said llever being bifurcated, arotatable'shaft carrying an indicating hand, and a spiralshapedprogection on said shaft 'straddled by the bifurcated end of said leverto causer me movement of said lever in either direction to be impartedto said indicating hand.

3. In a speedometer for vehicles, a fluid receptacle, a movable part.connected with said receptacle, means controlled by the speed ci saidvehicle for generating varying pressures of the fluid contained in saidreceptacle torv imparting movement to said movable part, a pivotcd leverhaving a biurcated end, means for connecting said le-l ver to saidmovable part, a rotatable shaft having an indicating hand, and a,spiralshaped projection on said shaft straddled by the hiurcated end ofsaid lever to cause the movement of said lever in either direction to beimparted to said indicating hand, the inclination et said spiral-shapedprojection being varied to correspond to the varying pressures createdin said receptacle so as to cause a uniform movement oi' said indicatinghand.

et. In a speedometer for vehicles, a pive oted lever, means controlledby the speed of the vehicle for imparting to said lever a movementproportionate to the speed of the vehicle, a rotatable shaft having anindicating hand, and a spiral-shaped projection on said shaft engaged bysaid lever, the connection between said spiral-shaped projection andlever being such as to cause said lever to impart to said shaft apositive movement in either direction, substantially as and for thepurpose specified. v

5. In a speedometer for vehicles, a fluid receptacle, a movable partconnected to said receptacle, means controlled by the speed of thevehicle for imparting movement to said movable part through the mediumof the iuid contained in said receptacle, a pivoted lever, means forconnecting said lever with said movable part, a rotatable shaft carryingan indicating hand, and a spiral-shaped projection on said shaft engagedby said lever. substantially7 as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a. speedometer for vehicles, a'luid receptacle, a flexiblediaphragm connected with said receptacle, means controlled by the speedof the vehicle for creating a pressure in said receptacle to impart amovement to'said diaphragm proportionate to the speed of the vehicle, aspring for normally holding said diaphragm in collapsed position, apivoted lever together with means connecting the same With saiddiaphragm, a rotatable shaft carrying an indicating hand, and aspiral-shaped projection on said shaft engaged by the end of said-lever,substantially as specified.

7. In a speedometer for vehicles, a diaphragm, a pivoted lever, meansfor connect ing said lever to said diaphragm so that the lever may becontrolled thereby, a shaft whose axis is substantially parallel to thedirection of movement of the diaphragm, a spiralshaped projection o saidshaft, and a. connection between the 'ree' end of said lever and ,saidprojection to cause the sha-ft to'rotate a uniforml distance by amovement of the diaphragm, substantially as specified.

S. ln a speedometer tor vehicles, a movable part controlled by the speedof the vehicle to move uniform distances by a uniform variation in thespeed, a pivoted lever, means for connecting said lever to said movablepart, a rotatable shaft having an indicating hand, and a connectionbetween the vtree end of said lever and said shaft which will impart auniform movement to said hand by the movement of said movable part,substantially as specified.

9. In a speedometer for vehicles, a duid receptacle, a movable partconnected to said receptacle, means controlled by the speed ofthevehicle for generating varying pressures of the fluid contained in saidreceptacle forimparting movements to said movable part, a pivoted lever,means for connecting said lever to said movable part, a rotatable shaftcarrying an indicating hand, and a spiral-shaped projection on said'shaft engaged by the free end of said lever, the inclination of saidspiral-shaped projection being varied to correspond to the varyingpressures created in said receptacle so as to cause a uniform movementof said indicating hand, substantially' as specified.

10. ln a speedometer for vehicles, a pivoted lever, a fluid receptacle,means controlled by the speed et the vehicle for creating varyingpressures of the fluid in said receptacle, means for causing id fluid toimpart varying movements to said lever., a rotatable shaft having anindicating hand,

.a spiral-shaped projection on said shaft engaged by the 1free end ofsaid lever, the inclination of said Spiralshaped projection being variedto correspond to the varying pressures of said fluid to cause a uniformmovement to be imparted to said indicating hand, substantially asspeciied.

n testimony whereof, I have hereunto set .my hand this 14th day of June,1910.

1WILLIAM 0. NELSON.

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